The Palace Company CEO: human talent rules tourism investments

In a statement that has stirred the industry, the CEO of The Palace Company put it bluntly: human talent defines the success of tourism investments, not bricks and mortar. He made it clear in a recent interview reported by Acento.

And I see this as a wake-up call for the Dominican Republic. We have been breaking arrival records, over 10 million tourists in 2023, but how fast are we training the people who will serve them? The Palace Company CEO reminds us that a resort may have the most expensive suites in the Caribbean, but without a well-trained team, guests leave and never come back.

• Investment in training: chains that invest in their employees retain talent and boost guest experience.
• Career path: to attract hotel capital, you need to offer a real career to those working at the front desk or in the kitchen.
• Reputation: a destination with skilled professionals sells itself.

My take: this is not about opening more hospitality schools for the sake of it. It is about connecting training with what the market actually needs. If MITUR and hotel associations do not sit down to design training plans with major brands, like The Palace Company, other Caribbean destinations will eat our lunch. Heads up: competition is not resting.